Short Answer Type(a) How do organic farmers control pests ? Give two examples.
(b) State the difference in their approach from that of conventional pest control methods.
(a) Name the selectable markers in the cloning vector pBR322 ? Mention the role they play.
(b) Why is the coding sequence of an enzyme 
-galactosidase a preferred selectable marker in comparison to the ones named above ?
(a) Why must a cell be made 'competent' in biotechnology experiments ? How does
calcium ion help in doing so ?
(b) State the role of 'biolistic gun' in biotechnology experiments.
Long Answer TypeA large number of married couples the world over are childless. It is shocking to know that in India the female partner is often blamed for the couple being childless.
(a) Why in your opinion the female partner is often blamed for such situations in India ? Mention any two values that you as a biology student can promote to check this social evil.
(b) State any two reasons responsible for the cause of infertility.
(c) Suggest a technique that can help the couple to have a child where the problem is with the male partner.
(a) What is polygenic inheritance ? Explain with the help of a suitable example.
(b) How are pleiotropy and Mendelian pattern of inheritance different from polygenic pattern of inheritance ?
(a) Name the stage in the cell cycle where DNA replication occurs.
(b) Explain the mechanism of DNA replication. Highlight the role of enzymes in the process.
(c) Why is DNA replication said to be semiconservative ?
(a) Name the two growth models that represent populations growth and draw the respective growth curves they represent.
(b) State the basis for the difference in the shape of these curves.
(c) Which one of the curves represent the human population growth at present ? Do you think such a curve is sustainable ? Give reason in support of your answer.
(a) Taking an example of a small pond explain how the four components of an ecosystem function as a unit.
(b) Name the type of food chain that exists in a pond.
(a) The pond ecosystem is fairly a self-sustainable unit.
A pond is a shallow water body in which all the above mentioned four basic components of an ecosystem are well exhibited.
The abiotic component is the water with all the dissolved inorganic and
organic substances and the rich soil deposit at the bottom of the pond.
The solar input, the cycle of temperature, day-length and other climatic
conditions regulate the rate of function of the entire pond.
The autotrophic components include the phytoplankton, some algae and the floating,
submerged and marginal plants found at the edges.
The consumers are represented by the zooplankton, the free swimming and bottom dwelling forms.
The decomposers are the fungi, bacteria and flagellates especially
abundant in the bottom of the pond.
This system performs all the functions of any ecosystem and of the biosphere as a whole, i.e., conversion of inorganic into organic material with the help of the radiant energy of the sun by the autotrophs;
consumption of the autotrophs by heterotrophs;
decomposition and mineralisation of the dead matter to release them back
for reuse by the autotrophs.
(b) In the pond ecosystem the Grazing Food Chain is the major food chain for the energy flow. 
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